Daily Devotions
2 Corinthians
"Triumph in Christ..."
Text: 2 Corinthians 2:14
GOD’S LEADING
Paul certainly had to plan his work carefully. He needed to know which doors God would open and then step in with great courage to preach the gospel of Christ. However, he was most conscious of the fact that God was always leading the way.
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ,
and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
2 Corinthians 2:14
1. “Now thanks be to God”
a) The word “thanks” is also the same word for “grace”.
b) Paul was most conscious of giving thanks to God.
i) Spontaneously
ii) Deliberately
iii) The grace of God was consciously remembered.
2. “Who always leads us in triumph in Christ”
a) Paul was conscious of the hand of God in his life and ministry.
b) Though he did his part in planning, he was conscious that it was God who was leading.
c) “In Christ”
i) The focus was always the preaching of the gospel of Christ.
ii) All that God did was always related to Christ.
iii) Paul was careful never to lose sight of Christ and His gospel.
d) “In triumph”
i) There may be struggles.
ii) There may be feelings of restlessness.
iii) There may be opposition.
iv) There may even be suffering.
v) But triumph of Christ and the gospel will always be assured.
3. “And through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place”
a) Paul was most conscious of being a servant of God.
b) He and members of his team were aware that they were to proclaim the knowledge of Christ.
c) The knowledge of Christ is beautifully described as “fragrance”.
d) The imagery of a triumphal march of a victorious general lies behind these words.
God’s leading in Christ must cause the servants of God to feel great joy and confidence!